NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES — CBS Films and Simon & Schuster – both divisions of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) – announced thatCBS Films acquired the feature film rights to the publisher's upcoming release "The Christmas Cookie Club" by Ann Pearlman. The announcement was jointly made by Amy Baer, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Films, and Carolyn Reidy, President & CEO of Simon & Schuster.

In the tradition of such memorable works as "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "Steel Magnolias," "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" and "Waiting to Exhale," "The Christmas Cookie Club" centers around an annual holiday celebration in which 12 women trade their home-made cookies at the most anticipated party of the year. As the evening unfolds, the friends bare their personal adventures of the past twelve months. The open, honest and sometimes emotional revelations connect these women through unwavering friendship and support.

"The Christmas Cookie Club" will be published in hardcover by Atria Books in November 2009, with a 350,000 copy first printing, and worldwide publication by Simon & Schuster's publishing companies in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The book will also be available simultaneously as an audiobook from Simon & Schuster Audio, and will be published in paperback by Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books imprint.

"Every woman can relate to the 'importance of friendship' theme celebrated in Ann's book," said Baer."Her unique way of illustrating that bond, and weaving the rich stories of these women into this modern holiday ritual, makes for a very special piece of material."

"We were excited by the strength of the storytelling in 'The Christmas Cookie Club' from the very first page," said Reidy. "This looks to be a unique and wonderful publishing opportunity, and that we will be working with CBS Films to bring it to an audience of readers and moviegoers makes the recipe all the sweeter."

Pearlman is also the author of two nonfiction works: the memoir "Infidelity" which garnered worldwide acclaim after its publication in 2000 and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, and "Inside the Crips."

About CBS Films

CBS Films, established in 2007, plans to develop and produce four to six movies a year spanning all genres, with production budgets up to $50 million per film.

CBS Films is currently in pre-production on two films:"The Untitled Crowley Project," an inspirational drama starring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser, and co-starring Keri Russell, under the direction of Tom Vaughan; and the romantic comedy "Plan B," starring Jennifer Lopez, under director Alan Poul.The company's development slate includes such titles as "Permission," written by Karen McCullah Lutz; "Consent To Kill," an action-thriller based on the Mitch Rapp character from the best-selling Vince Flynn novels; "The Eternals" from writer Chris Hauty and director Jeff Wadlow; and the edgy romance "Beastly," written and to be directed by Daniel Barnz, and based on the Alex Flinn novel of the same name.

About Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats.Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.For more information, visit our Web site at www.simonandschuster.com

About CBS Corporation

CBS Corporation is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and The CW – a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), cable television (Showtime and CSTV Networks), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), interactive media (CBS Interactive), music (CBS Records), licensing and merchandising (CBS Consumer Products), video/DVD (CBS Home Entertainment), in-store media (CBS Outernet) and motion pictures (CBS Films). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.